At the end of every sports season, whether it is fall, winter or spring, the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association has leftover equipment.

    The DIAA usually finds some use for all the gear, but this year it is putting it toward a good cause right here in Delaware.

    Kevin Charles, executive director of the DIAA, said items such as soccer balls and footballs will be donated to Kay’s Kamp, Delaware’s first oncology camp.

    Kay’s Kamp is the dream of Kaylyn Warren, a 17-year-old girl who passed away in March 2007 from leukemia. It was her idea Delaware should have a camp for children with cancer so they could achieve a state of normalcy they were stripped of upon diagnosis.

    Lisa Schmalbach, executive director of the camp, said Kay’s Kamp would give these children the opportunity to have the same normal camping experience that every other kid has.

    “There will be kids around them that are experiencing the same things they are,” Schmalbach said. “We’re trying to make their lives normal again, even if it’s just for a week.”

    Included in the schedule for Kay’s Kamp are all of the normal summer camp activities, such as arts and crafts, nature walks, sports and games, songs around the campfire, fishing and more.

    The camp, for ages 6 to 16, will have its first season from Aug. 8 to Aug. 15, 2009, at St. Joseph’s Center for Community Service, Clayton.

    Charles said after he heard about the camp, it was a “no-brainer” making the decision to donate equipment.

    “Our sponsors supply us with new balls every year for our tournaments, so it’s a winning situation for the sponsors, the DIAA and the recipients,” he said. “The balls have all been used in the state tournament but they’re still relatively new. We’re happy to do it.”

    Gifts like the one from the DIAA is something the camp relies upon heavily, Schmalbach said. Kay’s Kamp also depends on volunteer staff to help things run smoothly.

    “We’re starting from ground zero here, and we rely solely on donations,” she said. “It’s going to be the first-ever camp for kids with cancer in Delaware. There is none of its kind in this state.”

    Kay’s Kamp is currently seeking donations and campers for next year’s inaugural camp.

    For more information, visit www.kayskamp.org.

Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com